Amazon synod Archives

Pope Benedict XVI breaks silence to reaffirm priest celibacy

Jan 13, 2020

Retired Pope Benedict XVI has broken his silence to reaffirm the “necessity” of priestly celibacy, co-authoring a bombshell book at the precise moment that Pope Francis is weighing whether to allow married men to be ordained to address the Catholic priest shortage.

By Nicole Winfield

Pope’s early 2020 likely to be dominated by documents rather than deeds

Jan 7, 2020

At least for the early part of 2020, it seems likely the biggest papal bombshells will come in things the pope is expected to publish.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Theologians praise suggestion to add ‘ecological sins’ to Catholic catechism

Nov 20, 2019

A possible recognition of “ecological sins” in the Catholic Church’s main teaching document would help “sharpen our consciences in matters of ecological abuse,” according to Dr. Christopher Thompson, a leading moral theologian.

By Nick Mayrand

Global debate gets underway over married Catholic priests

Nov 9, 2019

Germany’s Catholics reacted enthusiastically when bishops from across the Amazon called for the ordination of married men as priests to address the clergy shortage in that region. Such reforms have been pushed for decades by many German bishops and lay groups who hope it can lead to the liberalization of centuries of Catholic tradition.

By Kirsten Grieshaber

Amazon governors, meeting after synod, support ‘green economy’

Oct 29, 2019

Governors from eight Amazonian states in Brazil and Peru meeting at the Vatican agreed that the Amazon is threatened and called for a “green economy” that would allow people to generate income without destroying the forest.

By Barbara Fraser

“Pachamama” has become the new Catholic insider “Who am I to judge?”

Oct 29, 2019

“Pachamama” has become the new insider Catholic version of “Who am I to judge?”, meaning a single word or phrase which, immediately upon utterance in front of another Catholic, whatever comes across their face will tell you everything you need to know about where he or she stands.

By John L. Allen Jr.